Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-06-10

Hon William A. Wheeler, ex-vice presi-
dent of the United States, died at his home
in Malone. n. Y, last Saturday morning.
1t had long been known that he was in fail
ing health, afflicted by incurable maiadies,
and the announcement of his death was
therefore in no wise a surprise. For years
he had been tortured with insomnia, the
precursor in his case of a settled brain dis
ease. and death came at last, quietly and
peacefully, from softening of the brain.
Always n man of quiet tastes, he had led
more than ever retired life, save only III
the performance of his public duties since
the death of his wife in 1876. Her death
left him without any near relatives, and
since his term in the vice presidency expired
in 1881 he has lived the life of quiet, dig
nified, helpful private citizen in his home at
Malone, enjoying the fullest confidence re
spect and sympathy of his neighbors and
fellow citizens Ever since his illness be
came serious the relatives of his wife and
other friends who have been bound to him
from boyhood by close ties of friendship
and affection have been constant in their
solcitude for him. and little company of
them were grouped about him, with his pas
tor and physician, when the final summons
came
Mr.. Wheeler was born in Malone in 1919.
When he was eight years old his father
died leaving his mother with three children
to rear, and the little family had their
share of the early difficulties of life in what
was then a frontier town. The boy William
worked himself up as best he could, teach
ing IA district school in winter and doing
farm work in summer as he grew toward
manhood, until at the age of 10, with "A loan
of $50 from a friend, he entered the Uni
versity of Vermont at Burlington and spent
two years in study there, being then obliged
to leave, partly on account of weakened
eyes, and partly because his mothers neces-
stiles required his help. Soon after he he
gan to study law and entered its practice in
1913 From this time ON his advancement
was rapid The people among whom he was
born and had lived recognized and appre-
ciated the merit that was in the young man,
and took pleasure in giving him preferment.
He was chosen district attorney in lSi7
was sent to the Assembly in 1850 and 1851
served as state senator in 1858 and 1853,
and in 1861 was sent To Congress, where he
served one term; four years later he was
elected 10 the 4lst Congress, and thence on
to March 4, 1877, he was kept in the House.
Meantime he had had practical business eX-
perience, having been made cashier of the
AT,1,,,. l,a,,b- "a, 1871 aud t,rasiIauf Of Ia
cal railroad company whose affairs he man
aged successfully This business training
was of value to him in Congress, where as
chairman of the Pacific railroad committee
he made a most honorable record, serving
with credit also on the commerce and ap-
preparation committees. His most con
spicuous national service was rendered in
1873, when, as chairman Of the committee
ON southern affairs, he visited New Orlean,
and devised 1.-THE Wheeler compromise .
His plan for adjusting the then seriously
complicated political situation in Louisiana
was adopted, and proved IA satisfactory and
equitable adjustment of the existing trouble,
for the time being.
Mr. Wheeler's prominence before tn,
country, and his recognized position as IA rep
resentative of the hest element in the Re
publican party, made it the natural thing
that he, a favorite son of New York, SHOULD
be put upon the Republican ticket of 1874
after Gov Hayes of Ohio had been put al
its head He performed the duties of tn,
office of vice president with dignity anC
fidelity, but it was well known that he foun,
the enforced retirement from any actiy,
part in the public affairs of the nation irk
some and distasteful lie would have mucl
preferred 20 remain in the House, or % hav,
gone o. the Senate, as he probably woulD
have done had not the call of his party com,
b. him for service in this other direction
Il is IA fact worth noting of him and Presi
dent Hayes, that during the time of the ad
ministration they were fast friends-a fact
which has not too often happened in the
history Of Washington life. 1t is one of the